Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Hi everyone! We've attempted a blog numerous times at Scrapbooks Too, but we all get so busy with
other things that it seems to “fall off of the radar screen." Lately, I’ve been thinking about more ways
to stay in touch with you all, and what I could possibly have to share - I came up with an idea last week! I am always looking for ways to get great
card, scrapbook and other samples in my store. Those of us who work here occasionally make
them; I get them from other stores in “sample swaps;" customers sometimes make
them; I get them from manufacturers.

I’m going to take a sample I’m getting ready to display in
the store, tell you about the person who made it, and show you what it inspired
me to do! I have found that I am much
more “inspired” to be a good store owner when I get time to craft, so each
Tuesday I’m going to try to make the day my “blog, copy and sample” day. I’ll write blog posts, I’ll copy other
people’s great designs, and make a stash of samples for the store. Oh yes---and
I’ll make sure we have the products you need to replicate these ideas!

This first week I am featuring a card from a swap in which I
recently participated. It was a
“Spellbinders” swap with stores in the Crafters Home network. I put all the cards on the table in front
of me, and I turned it over to see who made it---it was created by Gail
Borstelmann, the Crafters Home office manager, and former Scrapbooks Too sales
associate (and current customer). She
can often be found at the store on Tuesdays, sharing lunch with Kathy!

From the same swap, another card was made using the Rose
Creations die. This one was created by
Missy Brozek, who is the Crafters Home Creative and Marketing Director. She also does all the design work on our
beautiful newsletter. I think it’s so funny that she and Gail used
the same die AND the same rub-ons!

Since I love the Journey collection, I pulled out my 6x6
pad, and I called Gail to borrow her Rose Creations die (yes, I actually own 2
of them---one at home and one for the store---but of course I can’t find either
one!). I decided to add a stamped image
to mine---for a note to a friend I had lunch with last week –which I’ve been
ready to use for awhile. My style
isn’t quite as “clean” as Gail’s is, but I’m pleased with the result! The stamps are by Riley and Company (I
LOVE the moose!), and the Stickles, well they’re just Stickles! I couldn’t find my Glossy Accents (a new
bottle is on a pile of stuff awaiting me at the store), so I embellished the
flowers with some Crackle Accents instead. Similar to Gail’s, but with my own-self relfected.

I was still inspired to do a little more, making use of all
7 pieces of the Rose Creations die set like Missy did. My 22nd anniversary is coming up
very soon, and can you believe I’ve NEVER made an anniversary card for Ed? I've been playing a lot with the Echo Park“Times and Seasons” line, and inspired by it, I created something I love, which “feels” like my husband, even with the
rose! My 17 year old told me a man
should never get a card with a flower on it---WHATEVER!

The stamped image is from an old ATC (artist
trading card) set of Tim Holtz’s - Ornate Collages. Check the closeup image---perfect for the man I love. Now I
have a week and a half to write something inside!

Last step---return the die to Gail’s office. I’ll slip over there before she gets in
tomorrow (and before I have a chance to lose it!).

I hope I’ve inspired you all a little bit---take some time
to craft today. It doesn’t matter if you
copy these exactly, or if you don’t copy them at all---remember why we all love
paper so much! It’s because of the fun
we have playing with it! We always love to see what you’ve
created---bring your art to the store with you and show it off!

Do you feel inspired to inspire me? Every week I'll be picking something to copy---a sample in my store, one of the cards I see a customer make, a scrapbook page I feel like lifting... Want me to copy you? Please talk to me at the store, I'd love to feature different people each week!